Clothespin



April 10 1951 H. R. JoHNsoN 2,548,536

CLOTHESPIN Filed June 3, 1948 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 ACLOTHESIIN Harold R. Johnson, Washington, D. C. Application June s, 194s,seria1No; 30,942

Myinvention relates to clothespins and more particularly to one in which the clamping jaws 1 are held by a cam locking lever or device in which the locking action is aiected particularly in passing over the dead center of movement to comp-ress 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-137) the jaws toward each other or together and lock them fast or tight on theline and clothes or other articles folded thereon.

Heretofore, clothespins have been very unsatisfactory in that they do not securely fasten the articles to a line. At the present time there are particularly two Well-known clothespins or types on the market. One of the Wooden slip-on type, forked or provided with a kerf to wedge `over the articles folded on a line and the other having spring pressed and usually wooden jaws with opposed recesses to accommodate the line and clothes, which relies upon the gripping action of the spring holding the jaws in assembled relation. However, such pins are unsatisfactory,

especially yduring high Winds and in holding small articles since the wedging or gripping action is not sufcient `to prevent the clothes from being blown from the line, thereby necessitating re washing or enti-re loss of the articles by beingv blown away. The objectof the present invention is to provide a novel andsimple metallic or like 4clothespin which will firmly grip and lock the clothes on the line so las to prevent the same from iblowing loose and obviating the difficulties and objections heretofore experienced in connection with prior devices.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specically referred to `and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothespin embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the clothespin shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of clothespin from that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 of the clothespin shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to the clothespin shown in Figures 1 and 2, the same is shown as comprising three main parts, namely,

n the elongated body or handle I which is in the formofj a flat strip provided with -a lateral tabl or lug II at its free or rear end and formed with an obtuse angled front portion I2 with its free end portion or jaw I3 extended in spaced offset relation to the handle I0 but in the samedirection parallel thereto. The handle `I0 at the angular bend of the portion I2 is provided with stampedout or struck-up apertured lugs I4 extending in the same direction at the inner `side ci the handle lo to pivotally mount a handle or lever I5 corresponding in formation tothe handle I0 from the lugs i4 outwardly, except that tab I I extends in an opposite Ydirectionl The handle or lever -I5 is provided with a curled bearing-orangular portion I 6 mounting a pivot I 'I which may be formed -as projections upon the side edges thereof Yto engage the apertures of the lugs I4 and pivotally mount the handle or lever I5 thereon for movement toward and away from the handle It as clearly show-n in the drawing. The pivoted endfof the handle I5 `is provided with an extending cam I8 of somewhat arcuate formation and adapted to `eng-age the Aoppositely inclined beveled portion I9 opposing the portion I2 and divergent therefrom toward the free end or `jaw 2t which is parallel to the handle I0 and the jaw I3 and `angularly bent at `obtuse angles in the sameY manner as described in connection with the portions I2 and I3. The portion iglis formed from a strip -of the same width as the portions I8, SI2, I3 and I5 and converges toward the handle IU where it is bent at obtuse angles to provide an anchoring end portion 2I which is secured to the handle I0 in `any suitable way, as by means of a screw 22 engaging threaded apertures .23 vin the handle Ii! or both portions `I0 and 2l with the portion I9 extending between the lugs I4 and under the pivot .I 'I and cam I8 rso that the jaws I3 and '24J are disposed in opposed spaced parallel relation to embrace a line and clothes folded thereon.

f The inner surfaces `of thejaws I3 and 20 may be providedy with `correspondingly -shaped jaw faces 24 riveted -or otherwisesecured thereto as and 2D may beheld apart Aby suitable spring Vmeans 26, instead vof depending upon the natural* spring qualities or :resiliency of the strips composing 'the parts VI2 and I 9, although the 'latter by reason of being of spring steel, Phosphor bronze or hardened and temperate metal or alloy,

are ordinarily sufficient to normally spring apart.

The jaws I3 and 20 are forced together by swinging the handle or lever I5 toward the handle I3, the leverage being applied to the handle I5 to cause the jaws to be forced together or toward each other against the clothesline and articles folded thereon, but more especially by movement of the jaw 2B at the portion I9 by reason of the pressure caused by the cam I8 against the portion I9, it being noted that the handle IIJ and portion I2 are angularly bent in front of the lugs I4, in order to secure a more effective clamping action. A slight pressure with the thumb and forefnger on the handles III and I5 or lugs II thereof will cause the spreading of the handles IIJ and l5 to release the jaws which will automatically separate or spread apart and open to release the same from the line and clothes.

The camming action of the cam I8 results from the same passing over the dead center of movement when the handle I5 is moved or swung toward the handle I0, with the end of the cam I8 engaging the outer face of the part I9 so as to effectively lock the jaws tight and fast in clamping position. This is due to the fact that the arc of the cam I8 increases in radius from the pivot axis II toward its free end or recedes in the opposite direction.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the construction is the same as that described in connection with Figures 1 and 2 and the parts are similarly numbered, except that insteadof anchoring the part 2l to the handle or body II] in the manner described, as by means of the screw 2?., the handle or body strip IIl is provided with a struck-up apertured lug 2l engaged by a reduced rearwardly extending shank or extension 28 on the part 2| so as to be held down against the handle I0 at its inner end portion by reason of the hole or aperture in the lug 2 being provided closely adjacent the inner or top surface of the Vhandle I0. Also, the parts I2 and l-3 are provided with a struck-up stem 29 which movably extends through a hole or opening `@lll in the jaw 20 adjacent the obtuse angled portion atthe juncture thereof with the portion I9 to take a corresponding spring 26, or the latter may be mounted between the jaws I3 and 2] in rear of the jaw faces 24 and the stem 29 with the ends thereof anchored to the jaws in 'any suitable manner in each instance.

As shown in Figure Li, lugs 3l may be pressed inwardly from the jaws so a-s to extend into the end convolutions of the spring 26 or so that the ends of the latter will seat thereover in order to retain the spring in position. The action of the spring, the cam and the operation of the clothespin in gripping and releasing the jaws from the clothesline and articles folded thereon is the same as described in connection with Figures l and 2 but it will be seen that in either instance the objections and problems created by the use of the present types of clothespins in. common use areentirely eliminated by the present device.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the portion I2 is shorter than the portion I 9 and bent from the handle I0 in front of the apertured bearing ears or lugs- I4 ywhich may be formed on andY bent in from the side edgesof the strip forming parts Ill, I2 and I3. Also, the portion I9 is longer than portion I2 andextends rearwardly or inwardly thereof to meet the handle IB in rear of the apertured bearing ears or lugs I4 or is bent out ordivergent from handle I0 in rear of the kobtuse angled bend-of the portion I2 therefrom where divergent to a greater degree from portion I2 than from handle I0 so that portions I2 and I9 are spaced apart to permit flexing and movement of portion I9 toward portion I2 under the action of lever or handle I5 ,and cam I8 thereagainst, in clamping a line between the jaws I3 and 20 and away from the same in the separation and spreading or releasing action of the jaws at cam I8 when handle I5 is moved out or separated from handle l0.

I claim:

y 1. A clothespin comprising a handle having an angularly bent offset portion with a jaw parallel to the handle at the free end thereof, a second jaw parallel to the handle and first jaw and having an'angularly bent portion offsetting the second jaw from the handle and an end portion anchored to the handle beyond said offset portion, lugs formed on the handle adjacent the angularly bent portion, and a second handle having pivot means formed thereon engaged in the lugs and provided with a cam extension to engage the angularly bent portion of the second jaw Yto force the same toward the first jaw when thesecond handle is swung toward the first handle and to release said jaws for separation when the second handle is swung away from the first handle, said first and second handles vhaving tabs extending laterally in opposite directions at the free ends thereof for separating the handles and releasing the jaws from clamping position.-

2. A clothespin comprising a handle 4having an angularly bent oiiset portion with a jaw parallel to the handle at the free end thereof, a second jaw parallel to the handle and first jaw and having an angularlt7 bent portion offsetting the second jaw from the handle and an end portion anchored to the handle beyond said offset portion, lugs formed on 'the handle adjacent the angularly bent portion, and a second handle having a pivot axis engaged in the lugs and provided with a cam extension to engage the angularly bent portion of the second jaw to force the same toward the rst jaw when the second handle is swung toward the first handle and to release said jaws for separation when the secondY handle is swung away from the .first handle, a laterally projecting tab formed on the free end of said first handle, and an oppositely disposed laterally projecting tab formed on the free end of said second handle whereby said tabs may be grasped for separation of said handles.

3. A clothespin comprising a handle having an angularly bent offset portion with a jaw parallel to the handle at the free end thereof, a second jaw parallel to the handle and rst jaw and having an angularly bent portion offsetting the second jaw from the handle, lugs formed on the handle adjacent the angularly bent portion, a second handle having pivot means formed thereon engaged in the lugs and provided with a cam extension to engage the angularly bent portion of the second jaw to force the same toward the first jaw when the second handle is swung toward the first handle and to release said jaws vfor separation when the second handle is swung away from the rst handle, a struck-up stem carried by the first jaw and the second jaw having an opening through which said stem movably extends, a Vspring between the jaws adjacent said stem Vand having its ends seated on projections at the inner faces of the jaws, and means anchoring an end portion of said second jaw to said iirst 'handle including a struck up apertured lug formed `on said iirst handle adjacent the angularly bent portion thereof, and a reduced shank formed on said end portion of said second jaw engageable in said apertured lug.

4. A clothespin comprising a handle having an angularly bent offset portion with a jaw parallel to the handle at the free end thereof, a second jaw parallel to the handle and rst jaw and having an angularly bent portion offsetting the second jaw from the handle and an end portion anchored to the handle beyond said oiset portion, lugs formed on the handle adjacent the angularly bent portion, a. second handle having pivot means formed thereon engaged in the lugs and provided with a cam extension to engage the angularly bent portion of the second jaw to force the same toward the rst jaw when the second handle is swung toward the first handle and to release said jaws for separation when the second handle is swung away from the rst handle, the part of the second jaw anchored to the rst handle being provided With a reduced shank and the first handle having a struck-up apertured lug engaged by said shank, a struck up stem formed in said rst jaw loosely engaging in an opening :formed in said second jaw for preventing longitudinal movement of sadjaws relative to each other, and a spring mounted between and operatively connected with said jaws.

HAROLD R. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED n STATES PATENTS Number l Name Date 748,423 Schaffner Dec. 29, 1903 796,531 Rathbun Aug. 8, 1905 880,095 Raymond et al Feb. 25, 1908 949,938 Michael Feb. 22, 1910 1,735,212 Pawsat Nov. 12, 1929 2,092,522 Post Sept. '7, 1937 p FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country Date 4,059 Great Britain 1888 1,343 Great Britain 1889 183,025 Great Britain July 20, 1922 225,010 Great Britain Nov. 27, 1924 

